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Interview with William Anderson
Flight Officer William Anderson began his service in the Royal Air Force at the age of eighteen when he signed up in Edinburgh. In this interview he speaks about his training, reporting to Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, being paid at the London…
Interview with Vic Farmer
Vic Farmer volunteered for the Royal Air Force at eighteen and trained as a navigator in South Africa. He describes his experiences of crewing up and serving in 550 squadron, RAF North Killingholme. He saw action on D-Day, and participated in…
Normandy landings
In the sky, parachutes are floating down from aircraft and landing in the distance. Tanks from either side are engaged in battle. Black and white striped landing craft are disgorging their troops onto the beach. Many of the landing craft are engulfed…
Albemarle in flight
Air-to-air view of an Albemarle glider tug flying above cloud. It carries invasion stripes and code-letters '9W- N'. This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form: no better quality copies are available.
Albemarle in flight
Air-to-air view of an Albemarle glider tug banking to port over a field landscape; its code-letters are 'Q-9W' and it carries invasion stripes. This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form: no better quality copies are…
Albemarle towing Horsa glider
An Albemarle has just taken off from a runway towards the camera, towing a Horsa glider; both carry invasion stripes. In the background a long line of Albemarles on the ground. This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form:…
Jim Ross in the gun turret of an Albemarle
Sergeant Jim Ross, wearing a Mae West and jacket with a whistle attached to the collar, is standing inside the gun turret of an Albemarle, the two machine guns are pointing at the camera. In the background, on the left, there is a parked Albemarle…
Gliders and tugs at RAF Tarrant Rushton
Oblique aerial photograph of a runway running left bottom to top right; on the runway are two lines of sixteen Hamilcar gliders with further Hamilcars dispersed in the background. On the grass each side of the runway are parked fourteen Halifax Mk 3…
Halifax towing Hamilcar glider
Air to air view of a Halifax towing a Hamilcar glider above a military camp set in open countryside. Both aircraft carry invasion stripes. This item was sent to the IBCC Digital Archive already in digital form: no better quality copies are…
Rambouillet
Aerial photograph of fields and woods with Rambouillet and the Jardin Anglais in the top right-hand corner. Gazeran, Saint-Hilarion, Orcemont and Orphin are visibile. Two areas are outlined in red and marked 'X' and 'Y' as 296 Squadron drop zones…
Don Briggs, a brief description of wartime service
Describes wartime service from 1939 to 1945. Joined as Halton apprentice in September 1945. Posted as fitter engine to RAF Wittering working on Wellington Hampden and Manchester aircraft. Followed by tour at RAF Upper Heyford working on Wellington…
Reminiscence and memories of Mrs E J Bascombe
Flight Engineer Ron Jones 61 Squadron, killed in action 25 April 1944. Details of his early life and service career. Some information how he met his wife, then their brief marriage. Initially he was declared missing but on January 1945 he was…
Herbert Gray's navigator's, air bomber's and air gunner's flying log book
Navigator's, air bomber's and air gunner's flying log book for Sergeant Herbert Gray from 21 February 1944 to 10 November 1945. Detailing training and operations flown. Served at RAF Stradishall, RAF Hemswell and RAF Elsham Wolds. Aircraft flown were…
D Day C-47 and gliders
At the top a ground to air photograph of five pairs of C-47s flying from bottom right to top left.
Below a ground to air photograph showing a stream of C-47s flying from right to left towing gliders. In the bottom right the roof of a building.…
Below a ground to air photograph showing a stream of C-47s flying from right to left towing gliders. In the bottom right the roof of a building.…
Squadron Leader Alistair Taylor DSO and bar DFC and 2 bars
Top left an air-to-air view of a reconnaissance Spitfire flying right to left with cloud background.
Bottom left air-to-air view of the bottom of a reconnaissance spitfire with Invasion stripes. The camera openings can be seen in the rear…
Bottom left air-to-air view of the bottom of a reconnaissance spitfire with Invasion stripes. The camera openings can be seen in the rear…
Interview with Joan Wilson
Joan Wilson was born in Nettleham near Lincoln. She joined the Women’s Auxilliary Air Force and served as a wireless operator at RAF Morton Hall. The day following the Normandy landings, she had to send an urgent signal to all aircraft, to stop…
Harry Parkins' flight engineer log book
The log book covers the training and operational career Sergeant Harry Parkins from 20 December 1943 to March 1954. He flew in Stirling, Lancaster, Anson, C-47, Lancastrian, Valetta, Lincoln. Harry Parkins flew 47 operations - 30 night operations and…
Donald Briggs' logbook
Donald Briggs served as a flight engineer with 156 Squadron Pathfinders flying Lancasters from RAF Upwood between 27 May 1944 and 31 March 1945. The incomplete log book includes 62 daylight and night time operations to French, German, Dutch and…
Interview with Thomas Carroll
Thomas Carroll grew up in Yorkshire and became a cashier for a mining company. He joined the Royal Air Force and flew operations as a flight engineer with 100 and 626 Squadrons. After the war, he retrained as an air traffic control officer in Germany…
Interview with David Rayner Fox
David Rayner Fox grew up in New Zealand and joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1942. After training, he flew operations as an air gunner with 75 Squadron from RAF Mepal. During one operation his pilot, Dave Moriarty was terribly injured when a…
Interview with Bill Moore. Three
Bill Moore grew up in Scotland and volunteered for the Royal Air Force. He completed 36 operations as a navigator with 138 and 161 Squadrons.
Interview with Les Munro
John Leslie Munro was born in the area of Gisborne, New Zealand. He only completed two years of secondary education because of the economic slump and in 1936 began work on a sheep ranch and then a mixed farm. On the outbreak of the Second World War,…
Interview with Lawrence Penn
Lawrence Penn grew up in Australia and worked as a bank clerk before he volunteered for the Air Force. He flew 40 operations as a pilot with 226 Squadron. After the war he had his own air taxi company and also flew for Qantas.
Interview with Douglas Reed
Flight Lieutenant Douglas Reed worked for the council before he joined the Royal Air Force. He flew operations with 166 Squadron from RAF Kirmington and with 156 Squadron, Pathfinders, from RAF Upwood. His aircraft often suffered damage. On one…
Interview with Jean Smith
Jean Smith worked as a clerk in the aircraft manufacturing industry before the war and later served as a secretary in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She served at 27 Operational Training Unit at RAF Lichfield.